Another superb one-movement Third Symphony: Oliver Knussen’s (1973-79/Michael Tilson Thomas). In this performance the composer conducts the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic; November 24, 2016.

Jan 17, 2022 | Ramblings, Videos | 3 comments

Oliver Knussen (1952-2018)

A pristine composer-conducted account of a masterwork. What a shame ‘Ollie’ didn’t complete Symphony 4 for the New York Philharmonic and Lorin Maazel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKHapNmQhbA

With the absence of the above recording, it is replaced by Michael Tilson Thomas’s Philharmonia Orchestra version for Unicorn…

A Great British Symphony: Lennox Berkeley’s Third (1969/Jean Martinon); on this Lyrita recording the composer conducts the London Philharmonic.

One of the Great American Symphonies: Roy Harris’s Third (1939/Koussevitzky) in Leonard Bernstein’s first New York Philharmonic recording (for CBS).

3 Comments

  1. Helen Bond
    Helen Bond on January 18, 2022 at 8:48 am

    This Knussen piece is new to me, it’s really marvellous!

    Reply
  2. Paul Taylor
    Paul Taylor on January 19, 2022 at 9:50 am

    Agreed about the Knussen, masterpiece, but all three of these 3rd symphonies are.

    Reply
  3. Frank Pritchard
    Frank Pritchard on January 19, 2022 at 9:27 pm

    The number of ear-tickling ideas that Knussen packs into 15 minutes is remarkable, and the orchestration is a masterclass in itself.

    Reply

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